Friday, November 16, 2012

Putting Novel Pieces Together

Oh, goodness. I'm late with my post today because I've had a busy week and I forgot my turn was up. And now I've got a half hour before I have to go to work, so I'm going to just riff here. Is that okay?

If I were writing a real post, I would pull things together that I want to talk to you about, like for instance:

The contradiction we touched on this week, of our dream of literary success, and our desire for quiet, obscure lives.

The one-year anniversary of Latayne's dream trip to The Holy Land to research her new book, and of her coming home to find her husband was desperately ill. You can read her latest update here.

The ways all of us ladies on Novel Matters have struggled in this new economy and new publishing world, and the ways you have struggled as well.

My long-time resistance to finding a real job for fear that my life would change in ways I would hate, which ended in my stumbling upon a dream job that I dearly, dearly love.

Bonnie's book, Talking To the Dead going FREE for just a couple days - but it's still not too late.

Then, if I were writing a real post, I would ask myself how these things connect to one another. I would probably think a long time for the obvious reason that the connection is not obvious.

But I would find the connection because I have twenty-five minutes now and I have to.

Here we go:

We told God we wanted to write good stories, but maybe He thought we said we wanted to live good stories. Which sounds fine on the surface, until you realize that good stories involve conflict, even tragedy sometimes, and stunning reversals, and we wanted - remember? - quiet lives and literary success.

We forgot that art comes out of pain. But He designed it that way. I don't know why. Still, this morning it all seems strangely beautiful.

If I were writing a real post, I would probably quote Marilynne Robinson's Gilead yet again, because I think it is the wisest novel I ever read.

Here's a good one:

"Strange are the uses of adversity." That's a fact. When I'm up here in my study with the radio on and some old book in my hands and it's nighttime and the wind blows and the house creaks, I forget where I am, and it's as though I'm back in hard times for a minute or two, and there's a sweetness in the experience which I don't understand. But that only enhances the value of it. My point here is that you never do know the actual nature even of your own experience.

I'm off to work, my friends. Please forgive my jumble here. I hope you'll comment anyway - I love to read what you have to say.

9 comments:

"We forgot that art comes out of pain." So well worded. I've actually been behind in my blogging. Usually I'm two weeks out, but I'm slowly getting caught up again. There will be days like these...great post anyway. I love rambling posts.

Yeah. Sometimes I get annoyed at God when my life starts playing out as a story, and i tell him I wish I was an accountant. I'd be a bad one though, because I'm just wired for stories. On days like those I have to grit my teeth and accept that although stories are conflict and character development, they do resolve.

Our lives tend to be like good stories. True. So true. What's a life without conflict? Without despised love? Without adversity and beautifully painful songs and touching paintings and novels that make your heart ache with joyful grief?

Art comes out of the most painful situations, you're right, Katy.

I remember when I started writing. My father had just walked out on my family. I was six. I picked up story telling because I had been pushed to escaping my own world so full of pain, to invent worlds full of pain. Or, rather, stumble upon them. Why do we do that? Find our own pain in the books we read?

Ah, this was interesting! We all do live what we think are quiet lives, but they aren't!I once told someone that I never go anywhere fun.BIG mistake, cuz then she proceeded to remind me of all the cool things God has dropped in my lap.

He is teaching me patience and about His timing. I think, "one day I'll look back and smile". But I need to remember to smile NOW.

Wow! You are so profound in 25 minutes! I am in dire straits, shoals everywhere and your post encourages me! The Author is at work!I just learned (James Study by Beth Moore) that anguish and joy come together in the Bible. Anguish is strongly connected to childbirth. It always produces something. If we let go and let God the something is beautiful. We have the choice to reject His way and produce ugliness and evil. There must be an amazing library in Heaven where we can read the stories of the saints forever. The Book of Acts is the only unfinished book in the Bible. "Tune in next eternity for the continuing saaaaaaaaagaaaaaa.....!"

A lot was covered in your comments as well. I'm trying to keep my head above waters as virus hit me this week. Not much writing but rest and reading helped sustain me. Hope there is an opportunity to win the book, "Talking to the Dead" by Bonnie. It would help in my time of healing.

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Praise for Novel Matters Authors

Lying on Sunday:"Sharon has created a character so vivid and real you'll feel as though you've stepped into Abbie Torrington's life. You don't want to miss this beautiful story of healing and grace" Virginia Smith, author of Age Before Beauty.

The Feast of Saint Bertie:"A story-feast from the get-go! The Feast of Saint Bertie is a surprising, engaging, unique story that will challenge readers to rethink what it means to be a Christ-follower in today's crazy, materialistic culture. With vivid characters, unconventional settings, and a beautifully unfolding plot, this book is the kind that will stay with you, like the fond memory of a great meal."~Mary E. DeMuth, author of Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions.

Talking to the Dead:“It isn’t often that I get so hooked on the characters and story that I forget time and purpose. Talking to the Dead caught hold of my heart from page one. It takes a gifted and intuitive writer like Bonnie to bring humor into the middle of such a serious story. Call her the Jodi Piccoult of Christian fiction! Beautifully done! I can’t wait to read the next story she writes.” ~Francine Rivers, bestselling author of Redeeming LoveLatter Day Cipher:"Latter-Day Cipher involves the reader not only in a page-turning murder mystery, but also in the struggles of those who must face their own shaken beliefs. A former faithful Mormon, author Scott is sympathetic to those struggles, and attempts to look compassionately at the process of making the hard decision to change."—Sandra Furlong Christian Retailing (Latter Day Cipher is a "top pick" March 2009)

Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon:"An unusual plotline and top-notch prose mark this talented novelist’s debut...competent dialogue, touches of humor, and sparkling character dynamics make this a welcome addition to the faith fiction fold." --Publishers WeeklyThe Queen of Sleepy Eye:“Few stories are able to portray both the crushing cost of sin and the transforming power of grace. The Queen of Sleepy Eye succeeds brilliantly. Patti Hill crafts each word with beauty and artistry.” Sharon Hinck, author of Stepping into Sunlight